Patrick N. Bryant v. Boston, City of - Police Department (SPR 20160337)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords June 3, 2016 SPR16/337; SPR16/338 Ms. Nicole Taub, Esq. Boston Police Department One Schroeder Plaza Boston, MA 02021 Dear Attorney Taub: I have received the petition of Patrick Bryant appealing the nonresponse ofthe City of Boston - Police Department (Department) to requests for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, in two (2) separate requests dated April27, 2016, Mr. Bryant requested five (5) categories of"lists" (SPR16/337) and two (2) categories of "breakdowns" (SPR16/338) related to the BPD cadets program and the Department's hiring processes. Having received no response to either request, Mr. Bryant petitioned this office. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten (10) days of the request. G. L. c. 66, § 1O (b ); 950 C.M.R. 32.05. The response may be an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. All records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was notified by you that responses will be provided. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department's failure to provide written responses, I will now consider these administrative appeals closed with the proviso that such responses are provided without delay. Mr. Bryant may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's responses within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). To assist in requesting and responding to requests for public records please refer to our publication, A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This document is available on the Internet, free of charge, at http://www.sec.statc.ma.us/pre/prepdf/guide.pdf. Attorneys on my staff are available during regular business hours to answer general questions regarding the Public Records Law. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre

Ms. Nicole Taub, Esq. SPR16/337; SPR16/338 Page2 June 3, 2016 In addition, members of my staff will visit a records custodian in person to conduct training workshops on the Public Records Law upon request. Please contact my office directly at the telephone number provided in this determination for furth information. cc: Mr. Patrick N. Bryant